Garrett Fullerhttp://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog
The Official Blog of Garrett FullerThu, 22 Feb 2018 03:28:49 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.7.9Bell System: From Invention to Monopolyhttp://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/2018/02/22/bell-system-from-invention-to-monopoly/
http://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/2018/02/22/bell-system-from-invention-to-monopoly/#respondThu, 22 Feb 2018 03:28:49 +0000http://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/?p=445Continue reading Bell System: From Invention to Monopoly]]>If you asked anyone who the most influential company in the telephony industry was: they would almost all answer with “Bell.” But how did Bell go from being a company formed to support a new invention to a monopoly with shady business practices, to just another forgotten name?Alexander Graham Bell wasn’t only the inventor of the telephone, but founder of the Bell Telephone Company – later the American Telephone & Telegraph Company, or AT&T. (Photo: Wikipedia)

The Bell System started out in 1876 after Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. Bell founded the company in order to support his new invention, as well as joining the established (yet growing) telegraph industry. Telegraph lines were already a “big thing”, but the telephone was the “next big thing.”

With people still relying on horses-and-buggy systems to get around at local levels – and trains and steamboats for more long-distance traveling – the telegraph and telephone can be compared to the internet. It allowed for near-instant communication, regardless of how far apart you lived. The telephone was a groundbreaking inventon that could’ve been likened to the automobile.

However, telephones needed a system to operate. Much like telegraphs and the internet, a company had to be formed to install and maintain the telephone system. Enter the Bell Telephone Company – later renamed to American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T) in 1885.

All was great for AT&T and Bell until his patent expired in 1894. This opened up an opportunity for many who wanted a piece of a pie in the telephone industry. Over 6,000 telephone countries popped up nationwide following the patent expiration. It wasn’t good news for AT&T.

A decade later, under new leadership, conditions favorable of forming a monopoly came into existance at AT&T. Theodore Newton Vail, the president of AT&T at the time, believed that there should only be one telephone company. In other words, Vail believed that his company should have a complete monopoly on the American telephone industry at the time. Vail went to work by buying up competitors – small and large.

In addition to buying up competing telephone companies, AT&T also bought out telegraph companies. Western-Union, a large corporation who had a virtual monopoly on the telegraph industry only decades prior, was now a part of AT&T’s empire. However, executives were worried that the US Government may come down hard on enforcing antitrust laws, divesting the company. With the Kingsbury Commitment, AT&T could continue swallowing small companies without any interference from the Interstate Commerce Commission.

In addition to AT&T purchasing competing companies, they also endulged in vertical integration. AT&T purchased Western Electric, who produced majority of their equipment – from telephones to switchboards to towers and waveguides. AT&T would later form Bell Labs, from which would come many key technologies we use everyday.

For many years, the Western Electric logo proudly proclaimed its relation to the Bell System, as evidenced by this logo found in a 1968 ad.

AT&T also took the effort to split their operations into several different regions. These regional operations, nicknamed “Regional Bell Operating Companies” (RBOCs), were parts of AT&T responsible for just one region.

Like many monopolies, bad things grew from AT&T’s business practices. AT&T started charging high prices for telephone service. Even worse, customers of the Bell System (nearly everyone) had to lease a telephone from AT&T – which was made by Western Electric (no surprise there.) AT&T would charge customers for buying their own telephones.

AT&T was known for having a standardized and strict way of operating their business. Everything, including sweeping/mopping floors, handwashing, and even changing lights, was documented in the Bell System procedures guidebook.

Divestion

Throughout decades of gouging customers and practicing other poor business practices, the Department of Justice finally realized that AT&T was doing more harm than good.

In the early 1980s, AT&T – one of the largest businesses in the world at the time – was brought to the stand. The company was broken up into eight smaller companies – nicknamed “Baby Bells.” The original AT&T, likewise named “Ma Bell” or “Mother Bell”, had dwindled by the wayside.

For two more decades, AT&T would struggle to stay alive. AT&T, now faced with major competitors, was deemed expensive and nothing special. Their landline telephones had become an option rather than necessary to use their services. AT&T would dabble into computing – mainly with their Unix technology (more later) – but wouldn’t be successful enough to compete with the big dogs like HP, DEC, or IBM. AT&T did, however, purchase NCR – National Cash Register – which was another giant company turned microcomputer manufacturer.

AT&T’s Bell Labs developed the UNIX operating system in the 1970s, allowing them to enter the computing business following the breakup. While AT&T wasn’t successful in computers, their UNIX operating system, and C/C++ programming languages were extremely popular and remain a staple in the computing industry to this day. [Credit: OldComputers.net]By 2005, some could argue that AT&T was on its death bed. However, an unlikely company purchased Ma Bell. Southwestern Bell, a “Baby Bell”, had purchased AT&T, forming AT&T, Inc. The AT&T you see today is the company that was formed during this acqusition.

Are they doing it again?

AT&T has made headlines, especially recently, about trying to return to their old habits. The company attempted to purchase media juggernaut Time Warner, causing AT&T to grow massive, once again. AT&T has recently bought other companies, such as DirecTV, Cricket Wireless, and others.

This entry was written in response to the news that the White House had shut down AT&T’s wishes to acquire Time Warner.

Lasting Implications?

The Bell System proved that any company can get big enough if given the power to do so. The Bell System is perhaps one of the largest monopolies in American history.

Many of the Baby Bells went on to be big telecommunications juggernauts that you see today. As previously mentioned, AT&T (Ma Bell) and Southwestern Bell merged to form the modern AT&T. Bell Atlantic would later become Verizon after merging with GTE. US West, later Qwest, would become CenturyLink.

Huge technological breakthroughs were a result of research at Bell Labs. UNIX, transistors, solar cells, hearing aids, the teletype, radar, and the C (and C++) programming language were all developed at Bell Labs. AT&T would later their UNIX operating system as a foothold in an attempt to get into the computing industry, but they were only marginally successful.

AT&T was also known for their development in transcontinental, international, and satellite communications. The AT&T Long Lines network allowed telephone calls, as well as TV and radio broadcasts, to be transmitted from one coast to the other via microwave technology. AT&T co-developed Telstar, the first communications satellite to be deployed by NASA and other governments. At Bell Labs, Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson discovered Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMBR) using a horn antenna.

Telstar, the first communications satellite (launched in 1962), was partially constructed by AT&T and the Bell System. [Photo: Bell Labs via NASA]While Ma Bell was sectioned off, many of her discoveries and spin-off companies prosper. The C and C++ programming language is very much widely used, and UNIX has become a huge deal. Satellite communications has changed life, and Penzias and Wilson’s CMBR was later determined to be one of the first evidences that our Universe may have been formed by a giant explosion. Unfortunately, the company that brought us all of these, was also dabbling in shady business practices.

Externally…

]]>http://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/2018/02/22/bell-system-from-invention-to-monopoly/feed/0Cell Phone Saga Pt. 3: The Reviewhttp://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/2018/02/19/cell-phone-saga-pt-3-the-review/
http://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/2018/02/19/cell-phone-saga-pt-3-the-review/#respondMon, 19 Feb 2018 12:44:14 +0000http://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/?p=495Continue reading Cell Phone Saga Pt. 3: The Review]]>It has been a month since I upgraded to a new phone and made the switch from Virgin Mobile to AT&T’s prepaid service. How has things been working?

The search was not an easy task. All prepaid carriers I checked (Boost Mobile, Cricket Wireless, metroPCS, etc.) only had phones in the 16GB storage flavor in my price range. Really, most only had iPhones and Samsung Galaxy models in the upper storage sizes.

After talking with a co-worker and going to our Walmart, I settled on the Samsung Galaxy Express Prime. Cricket Wireless sells the same phone, and that was what I going to go for. Unfortunately, our local Walmart didn’t have the Cricket flavor, so I went for the AT&T service instead. (And I’m thankful I did – more on that later.)

After buying the phone, the person at Walmart set it up for me and got it registered with AT&T everything. I started playing with the phone that afternoon and testing out things on it.

This is where I’ll step into my bit-by-bit, piece-by-piece review.

Build Quality

The build quality of this phone, for a $99 phone, is exceptional. It is built just as well as a $300 Samsung Galaxy, which (to me) says a lot.

Speed and Responsiveness

This phone is very snappy in comparison to my old phone.

Camera

Photo of the T420, taken with EP2.

One of the biggest things I was worried about in upgrading was the camera. The camera on my old phone was extremely good, and was the only decent thing on that phone. It took clear photos, had a great flash system, and also took good videos.

I didn’t loose much in the transition, thankfully. There is one or two things that annoy me about the camera on my new phone (which I’ll discuss) – but in terms of picture quality, there was no real difference. Images taken with the 4x digital zoom are of much higher quality than my old phone, though – although I try to avoid using digital zoom when possible.

The downside to this camera is that it doesn’t want to focus. My old phone was extremely easy to focus, I just tapped the screen to form a focal point. This new phone doesn’t like that; it just gets extremely blurry when you do that. The other downside to the camera on this phone is that close-up shots (macros) are of horrible quality, whereas my old phone did fairly well with macro shots.

Call Quality

In my eyes, a cell phone has one critical role it needs to do well: make and receive calls. After all, it is a phone.

There is no real difference in audio quality between my old and new phone. The audio quality is just as good. My old phone would drop out at random times during a call, which is never fun. I’ve noticed that this new phone can do the same – but I have an idea of what causes it on this phone that I’ll discuss later.

Here is a recording of a call I placed to WWVH, to test the call quality and the call recording app which I don’t recommend installing.

Entertainment, Internet, and Apps

Internet access is internet access. This phone spends about 80% of the time connected to WiFi, but the other 20% is spent elsewhere or when the WiFi in my building isn’t wanting to cooperate. It displays websites decent, and the new phone comes with two built-in browsers; a Samsung browser, and the standard Chrome mobile browser.

I found out that in addition to playing standard music files, this phone can synthesize MIDI files. This is great. I’ve been wanting a phone that can synthesize MIDI’s on the go, as all of my previous phones (besides my first phone – an LG Optimus Elite) could not play MIDI files. This phone can, which is odd considering my last phone was an Android and couldn’t do it. As for MIDI synthesis, this phone is exactly like my first phone – down to the samples and SoundFont.

This phone comes with a lot of apps out of the box, which is one caveat. AT&T pre-loads their apps, Samsung pre-loads theirs, and Android gives you the standard assortment. While AT&T and Samsung’s apps may be used by some, I’ve never used any of them (except the Samsung Browser and Samsung Notes.) I’m sure there is a way that you can remove these apps – but I typically just ignore them and deal with it.

Suggestion to Google/Android: Why not implement a built-in call recorder? For some applications, a call recorder or a valuable tool. I feel it wouldn’t be that hard to implement in the call control panel. The app I’m currently using to record calls is not that good and has loads of annoying ads. Just a thought…

Power

One of the issues with my old phone is power consumption. This phone is much more efficient; it takes nearly two days on a full charge to deplete the battery to around 8%. This phone charges extremely quick.

Fun/nice fact: this phone comes with a USB cable that plugs into a travel adapter. My first phone did this – but none since have (until this phone.) I like this concept much better because you can plug the cable into your computer and you can charge it from your computer, transfer files, or do both! I usually just let Google Drive and the cloud do the transferring for me, but it’s nice to have a backup. (I know that you can get microUSB-to-USB cables cheaply almost anywhere. But why go through that hassle when they can give you one, and some of those I would not simply trust.)

Issues

All phones will have their issues. This phone is no exception.

The “face proximity sensor” on this phone doesn’t work that well. When you make a phone call, the phone will only disable the screen if it detects your face is near it, so you can’t press buttons (like a facial version of butt-dialing) if your speaking normally, but will allow you to use your phone and talk (or use speaker phone) will doing something else. This phone’s face proximity sensor doesn’t work right. I’ve had a couple calls drop thanks to it thinking I’m pressing “End Call” when in reality I just moved the phone slightly while talking.

AT&T and the Service

I’ve heard mixed things about AT&T, especially with their landline/cable services that seems fairly commonplace around here. I’ve also heard that AT&T is relatively expensive for cell phone service, and their support isn’t that good. I simply disagree.

AT&T’s service is fairly well spread and the quality is decent. It’s about what you expect from a main carrier.

The support from AT&T – at least prepaid – isn’t anywhere near what people say it is. My experiences with their customer service is fairly decent. They’re usually helpful, although they sometimes don’t speak clearly and can be difficult to understand. On the other hand, Cricket Wireless had horrible customer service.

Is AT&T better than VM? The night is still young, but time will tell. I think they’ve already exceeded my expectations, but then again it has only been a month.

]]>http://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/2018/02/19/cell-phone-saga-pt-3-the-review/feed/0Top 5 Most Wanted Computershttp://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/2018/02/10/top-5-most-wanted-computers/
http://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/2018/02/10/top-5-most-wanted-computers/#respondSat, 10 Feb 2018 20:06:43 +0000http://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/?p=463Continue reading Top 5 Most Wanted Computers]]>Just like people who collect cars, movies, pyrex, and tupperware, there are always things you want to collect within that hobby. And while there are quite a few models of computers I’d like to eventually own – I’ll include my top five (reasonable) choices here and talk about them a little bit.

5. Apple ][

An original Apple II with the monitor and two “Disk II” floppy drives. [Photo source: Old Computers.net; Clicking on the image will take you to the OldComputers website, where you can learn more about the Apple II.]For many computer collectors, the Apple II is the beginning of creating a large collection.

Back in the day (1980s), the Apple II was wildly popular. Introduced in 1977 (during Microcomputer Mania!) by then tiny Apple Computer, the Apple II put Apple on the map by boasting color and an affordable price tag.

Because of this, there is a ton of software for Apple II computers. And the machines themselves relatively plentiful, although they increase in price – especially after the release of any Steve Jobs biopic. The Apple II was released in many incarnations and versions from 1977 until the line was discontinued in 1993. One of the popular (and the last version) was the II/GS, which could be considered somewhat a rival to the Macintosh. The II/GS had a graphical user interface and had better hardware capabilities than the Macintosh.

The Apple II has enough software to attract my attention, but it wouldn’t be the first computer I’d spend money on. The Apple II is easily expandable thanks to its maintenance-friendly design (thanks, Woz!) and they’re versatile.

4. Compact Mac

An original Macintosh 128k from 1984 – an extremely valuable machine to modern vintage computer collectors. The 128k was the first to use the compact Mac scheme, which was used up until the Color Classic II. [Photo source: OldComputers.net; clicking on image will allow you to learn more.]Speaking of the Macintosh, one that has been on my “wish list” for some time now is a compact Mac… any of the many models to use the form factor.

The first Macintosh, released in 1984, had a unique all-in-one design that Apple used for many years. The design became an icon of Macintosh computers, even to this day. This “all-in-one” design was coined the “compact Mac” design… primarily because it could fit in a bag and be toted around, even though that wasn’t popular.

The Macintosh SE and Classic (and Classic II) are fairly plentiful, although – just like the Apple II – are increasing in price as they become more and more collectable, and the price rises following the release of any Steve Jobs biopic.

The Compact Mac lines have a somewhat large software library. The Compact Mac also allows you to gain an experience of what one of the first wildly popular GUI’s was like, as well as see how far your modern MacBook Air has come.

3. Gateway 2000 Desktop

Two Gateway 2000 desktops… [Photo: Reese Riverson]I discussed this topic in my latest Throwback Thursday entry… the first computer I had growing up was a Gateway 2000 dating from 1993 or 1994. It ran Windows 3.11 on top of MS-DOS.

While Gateway 2000 was not the best computer (it could be likened to a Packard Bell or Acer), it got the job done and was fairly rugged. Known for their obsession with cows and being founded in Iowa/South Dakota, the company followed a sales model pioneered by Michael Dell (with Dell) and grew into one of the larger computer manufacturers of the 1990s. Following the dot-com bubble burst, the company quickly spiraled downhill before being bought out by Acer. You can learn more on my recent Throwback Thursday.

Post name change (post-1998) Gateway models are plentiful, but it is somewhat hard to find a wealth of information – or machines for sale – on anything before 1997.

I would love to relive my experiences with the old Gateway 2000, especially if it had the factory installation of Windows. Something about the cow wallpapers and just the machines themselves gave the machines a lot of character that you would be hard pressed to find in modern computers.

2. IBM PS/2

The PS/2 was IBM’s attempt to one-up clone manufacturers, boasting many advanced features. While the PS/2 was an overall good line, and lasted from 1987 to 1995 in many different incarnations, it still failed to live up to IBM’s expectations, and is often shadowed by IBM’s wild success with the PC. [Photo: Backwood Realm]The second best option is IBM’s PS/2. No… that doesn’t stand for Play Station/2. Rather, it stands for Personal System/2.

By 1987, IBM had taken quite a hit in PC sales. Other companies were developing their own “clones”, which could often perform better and/or be cheaper than IBM’s PC models. IBM decided to take action in April 1987 by releasing the PS/2.

The PS/2 line consists of many models – a lot like how the System/360 and System/370 lines had many different “models” – or configurations. These ranged from the entry-level Model 25 – an all-in-one, to the Model 55 – the “average” machine -, and the Model 90, which was a server.

The PS/2 ran PC-DOS (IBM’s own version of MS-DOS) and could run much of the same programs that could be ran on a PC, PC-XT, or PC-AT (or any of the others.) The PS/2 was a general improvement on the PC-AT, by offering better hardware, new standards (like PS/2 ports and VGA), and even making use of the 3.5″ floppy drive common. The biggest feature of the PS/2 was its use of the infamous IBM Model M keyboard, which are highly collectible to this day thanks to their tactile response and overall great feel and noise. Released alongside the PS/2 was the OS/2 operating system – which was co-developed between IBM and Microsoft until 1990, when Microsoft left the partnership. Before Windows took center stage, OS/2 was thought by many to be “the future of operating systems.”

The PS/2 did have a couple issues, though. The main bottleneck with some PS/2 models was the use of the microchannel architecture. This limited the amount of expansion items – such as video cards, sound cards, network cards, etc. – you could use in the system. For instance, finding sound cards to work with the microchannel architecture (MCA) is like trying to find a hen’s tooth in a pile of hay. (In relation, finding a SoundBlaster that would work with a PC of the time, or a PS/2 equipped with standard ISA ports is relatively easy.)

A PS/2 would share the same use as my number one choice… enjoyment. I’d use it for mostly running DOS-based games, MIDI files (the main reason for choosing a PS/2 over my number one choice is I can add a sound card to the PS/2), and other DOS-based software. Though I would also likely use it for some serious purposes, such as typing papers (using DOS programs).

1. IBM ThinkPad (pre-2000)

IBM produced the ThinkPad from 1992 to 2005, when they sold their PC manufacturing business to Lenovo. IBM’s ThinkPad was always known to be on the cutting edge of technology, being the first laptop to feature a CD-ROM drive from the factory, featuring the unique (and still used) TrackPoint pointing device, and was even the first laptop computer in space! [Photo: OldComputers.net]The IBM PS/2 was a great machine for its time, but only some PS/2 models could run Windows 3.11. Plus, due to my current living arrangement and budget – a PS/2 or other desktop machine would be quite a stretch and consume a large amount of valuable space.

On the other hand, an IBM ThinkPad would work perfectly. Since a ThinkPad is a laptop, it can easily be stowed away in a bag, and pulled back out and quickly setup for use.

I did recently get the IBM ThinkPad T42, but I am really wanting a pre-2000 ThinkPad (a model which predates the period where IBM started putting trackpads into their laptops.) A key candidate would be something from the 700 series, which is new enough to run Windows 3.11 or Windows 95 with no issues, but old enough that Windows 98 would be a stretch.

Unfortunately, a ThinkPad – being a laptop – has little to no room for expansions like a sound card. You’d need to purchase a model that had an integrated sound processor.

A Windows 3.11 or Windows 95 machine can move back and forth between MS-DOS (or PC-DOS), which makes it quite nice. You can get two experiences in one machine.

Most of these machines have plenty of software out there to support them, and most are fairly (at least somewhat) plentiful in supply. As mentioned, however, my living accommodations (living in a fairly small space where every inch is considered ‘valuable’) and budget, I may not be able to realistically acquire these machines (at least everything except maybe option #1) in the near future.

]]>http://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/2018/02/10/top-5-most-wanted-computers/feed/0TBT: My “Gateway” into Computershttp://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/2018/02/08/tbt-a-gateway-into-computers/
http://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/2018/02/08/tbt-a-gateway-into-computers/#respondThu, 08 Feb 2018 12:00:40 +0000http://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/?p=442Continue reading TBT: My “Gateway” into Computers]]>When I was four years old, Green Day was the popular band – and Windows XP was the newest operating system, with the iPod being everyone’s “must have” gadget. Yet, I had something totally different…

My first computer was a Gateway 2000 dating from around 1993 or 1994. It ran Windows 3.11 on MS-DOS (as Windows was still dependent on MS-DOS, and would be for a few more years) and featured a 3.5″ floppy disk drive and CD-ROM drive. It had no method of connecting to the internet – no modem or network card. The monitor was a huge, bulky CRT screen that I was fairly accustomed to. If I recall, the Gateway 2000 featured an Intel 486 processor, and that machine even featured the awesome “Turbo” button found on many old PCs from the 80s and 90s.

Gateway (2000) offered many different desktop form factors with fairly similar bezel designs. The one on top resembles the system I had as a child – including the turbo button and key lock! However, mine had a CD-ROM drive instead of the 5.25″ floppy drive. (Photo: Reese Riverson)

I received the Gateway 2000 from my grandparents back when I was three or four. The computer was formerly located in a room that I frequently slept in when I visited – on top of an old dresser. The computer had taken up the whole dresser.

Gateway 2000 was the predecessor to Gateway. There isn’t anything too special to discuss about them – other than they were founded in a barn in Iowa by Ted Waitt. The company modeled Dell’s custom ordering system (where you could customize your own computer via telephone, and later the internet) and they grew into a large manufacturer during the Multimedia PC craze of the early 1990s. The company continued to grow until the dot-com bubble burst and then they started rapidly declining, buying out rival eMachines in the process. Acer eventually stepped in and purchased Gateway, turning them into what they are today (a badge that goes onto cheap Acer laptops and desktops.)

If you needed to know one thing about Gateway (and Gateway 2000) it would be that they were obsessed with cows. Specifically Holstein cows. Gateway (post 2000 name drop) was really obsessed – with them printing “cow spots” onto their boxes, opening “Country Stores” (an idea which didn’t last long – similar to an Apple store, but selling Gateway equipment), and even giving out cow-spotted mouse pads. They even sold cow merchandise, such as t-shirts and stuffed animals with the Gateway logo on it. However, Gateway 2000 shared this trait. The thing I remember most from the Gateway 2000 I had was the cow wallpaper. (Which, as I found out right before writing this, they had many to choose from during the mid-1990s.)

This image desktop wallpaper closely resembles the one that I had on the Gateway 2000 I had as a kid. (Credit: Jason Scott, FlickR)

The Gateway 2000 eventually got stuck into MS-DOS. My five year-old self, and my technically-illiterate father (who never used a computer) couldn’t fix it. Unfortunately, I could fix it now and feel quite stupid for not being able to fix it then.

The computer was then “shelved” – although it was just relocated into a spare bedroom where it was stored. Later, after we returned from a long evening, one of our cats thought it was a great idea to use the Gateway 2000 (specifically its keyboard) as a litter box.

We finally upgraded to a new HP Pavilion that ran Windows Vista (one of the first machines to be made running Vista from the factory) and used that machine until a fire reduced our house – including the Pavilion and the Gateway 2000 – to ashes.

While Gateway 2000 was no IBM or Apple, they served a similar purpose to Packard Bell or eMachines in many people’s lives. For people who couldn’t afford an IBM Aptiva or a Macintosh Color Classic or Performa, these lower-budget machines still served their purpose. Many, like myself, learned how to use a computer using one. And for that, Gateway 2000 machines will always have an (odd yet) special place in my heart.

I’m currently working on a couple articles. A new Throwback Thursday (TBT) entry will be coming this Thursday, and I’m anticipating on releasing a post about my top five most wanted computers sometime this weekend.

I’ve also started some entries that will take somewhat longer. The main one is regarding mainframe computing in the modern world, and the other is about the PCjr. Since those projects require some research, they will take longer. I may even begin another entry project that will be based on something I will discuss later in this post.

A New Project

I’ve officially began working on a research project that will take up a slight amount of my time. My University has no readily-available information about the history of their computing system/computer science/data processing departments, while other Universities have that information right on their website. I’ve embarked on a project to research the history of data processing/computing at my University.

This research will be tedious, slow, but (in my humble opinion) well worth it. It is requiring going through book after book, looking at newspaper after newspaper, and scanning document after document.

The faithful IBM ThinkPad T42 (yes, the T42) has been the real workhorse for this project. Since Windows 7 has a better system of viewing images (again, IMHO) in comparison to Windows 10, the T42 was chosen for the task of verifying images of scanned documents. So far, it hasn’t given me any major problems – except not being able to use Paint due to the limited memory.

T42

The (IBM) ThinkPad T42 displaying an image of two employees operating a (IBM) System/360, with another IBM-made item in the background.

The T42 has been receiving a lot of action and has been out and about.

I’ve been using the machine to verify that the cantankerous scanner/photocopier in the archives room scanned documents properly, as well as saved them to the proper place. Since creating folders on the photocopier is a pain in the neck, the T42 also gets that task, as well. In the image above, the T42 is displaying a photo of two employees looking at data being printed out by an IBM System/360, with another IBM item in the background. (Can you guess what that “mystery” IBM item is?)

The IBM T42 has also been used as a “music player” of sorts. It’s nice to be able to listen to music while working at my desk at work, which has a computer with the headphone jack in a horrible (impossible to reach) spot.

Today, the T42 also got a more serious use. In a class, I forgot to bring my laptop (the T420) to do research for a class project. I had the T42, which was better than no laptop.

Despite its age, the T42 is already proving its worth. While it may not be as fast as my T420, and can’t do nearly as much, it is surprising what you can do with Windows 7 on only 512MB of RAM!!!

IBM Clocks

If you couldn’t guess the object from the photo with the T42, I’ll give it away – the clock. It’s an old (pre-1956) IBM clock!

In case you didn’t read the bell post where I discussed some of the non-computer items IBM made, IBM wasn’t just a manufacturer of tabulating machines and computers. Their most well known item was electric typewriters, although (until 1958) the company made fire alarm systems, bells, microphones, clocks. They also made dictation machines and other “business machines” until they focused primarily on computers and computer peripherals.

Not much is know about the clock. It is older than 1956, as it uses the old (pre-1956) IBM logo. IBM stopped making clocks in 1958 as they sold their time recording business (who also made fire alarm systems, bells, and other things) to Simplex. You can actually find IBM “schoolhouse” clocks online for sale, but they’re fairly expensive and highly collectible – like their typewriters, computers, and memorabilia.

Here are some pictures of the clock:

A full view of the clock.A close-up of the IBM logo.The electrical connections of the IBM clock. Note the age of everything (especially the fuses) and the *exposed* wires and contacts that would’ve had line voltage present. This was on top of the clock.
]]>http://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/2018/02/06/update-252018/feed/0TBT: My First Cell Phonehttp://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/2018/01/25/tbt-my-first-cell-phone/
http://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/2018/01/25/tbt-my-first-cell-phone/#respondThu, 25 Jan 2018 12:00:50 +0000http://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/?p=439Continue reading TBT: My First Cell Phone]]>In response to me getting my new Samsung Galaxy Express Prime 2 (see the latest installation in the “Cell Phone Saga” series), I thought I’d talk about the first cell phone I got.

I always wanted a phone. My parents always had very basic cell phones since I was a kid. Their first cell phone (if I recall correctly) was a Nokia 3310. The 3310 has been known since as one of the most indestructable phones. While it was built like a tank and worked well as a phone and for basic games, it was extremely basic in comparison to today’s phones.

So, after much begging and persuading, I finally was able to get a phone around the Christmas of 2012 when I was in the eigth grade. The phone I got was a LG Optimus Elite – used with Virgin Mobile as the carrier.

The phone was amazing to me at the time, as all of my prior experiences with a phone included playing games like Snake or Moon Lander on a black-and-white screen. Now, I could install apps and run them – in color. I could take pictures without having to carry a camera with me. I could access the internet from anywhere. It was nice.

That phone got replaced in June 2015 with a Nokia Windows Phone (Lumia). That phone got replaced over a year later with a LG Tribute 5, which was just replaced with the Samsung Galaxy Express Prime 2 and is my first phone with AT&T.

This post written on the IBM ThinkPad T42.

]]>http://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/2018/01/25/tbt-my-first-cell-phone/feed/0Cell Phone Saga Pt. 2: The New Phonehttp://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/2018/01/24/cell-phone-saga-pt-2-the-new-phone/
http://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/2018/01/24/cell-phone-saga-pt-2-the-new-phone/#respondWed, 24 Jan 2018 01:47:33 +0000http://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/?p=432Continue reading Cell Phone Saga Pt. 2: The New Phone]]>This weekend I finally upgraded to a new phone, bringing an end to the cell phone saga and nearly a month without cell phone service.

Carriers

In part 1, I discussed carriers. My old carrier, Virgin Mobile, has switched to an “iPhone-only” philosophy. While Android phones can still be bought for VM for a limited time, I decided to switch as I felt that it probably isn’t a good sign.

The search for a carrier led me to want to go with Cricket Wireless. Cricket Wireless is heavily advertised in our area, and had fairly decent prices and had some decent phones. But some major problems with Cricket’s billing system and their customer support forced me to abort and try another place.

That’s when I learned of AT&T’s prepaid service. Cricket uses AT&T’s network (AT&T owns Cricket), but there are some differences between AT&T Prepaid and Cricket. (I will not go into much detail here, as there is information elsewhere on this.)

The nice thing about AT&T Prepaid, a service that was formerly known as the “GoPhone” until recently, is that they sell phones at my local Walmart. So I went there and picked up my new phone and got it setup.

My New Phone: A Samsung Galaxy?!?

The phone I chose is a perfect example of how you can manage to find a phone that is decent for the money.

The Samsung Galaxy Express Prime 2 (EP2) is a mouth-full to say, but is packed with great features and decent specs (at least for me) at a low price of $100. The phone is comparable, from what I’ve found, to the Samsung Galaxy J3, which a friend had and raved about.

First thoughts of the phone are great. The screen is crystal clear, the camera takes amazing pictures, and the phone is quick and snappy. AT&T’s call quality is clear – not much different from VM.

Photo of the T420, taken with EP2.

However, before I stopped using my VM phone, it would randomly drop a call in the middle of a conversation. Thankfully, I didn’t have that problem with the EP2, as it lasted through a three-hour conversation with no interference or dropping.

The nice thing about the phone is it’s battery life. As mentioned in the last paragraph, I put this phone and AT&T’s service through a fairly rough maiden voyage: a three-hour phone call. While my Tribute 5’s battery would’ve dropped from being fully charged to around 50% or less after the call, the EP2 only dropped 10%. Additionally, this phone charges in nearly no time.

One last thing about this phone that I like, but is a really small detail. It came from the factory with a USB cord (micro-USB to USB) and a separate AC adapter. All of my previous phones, except the Optimus Elite, has had the adapter and cord integrated, meaning you can’t use it to plug your phone into your computer.

Of course, I’ve only had the phone a couple days. I will follow this up soon on how it has withstood the test of time.

]]>http://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/2018/01/24/cell-phone-saga-pt-2-the-new-phone/feed/0AT&T Long Lines – A Forgotten Systemhttp://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/2018/01/19/att-long-lines-a-forgotten-system/
http://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/2018/01/19/att-long-lines-a-forgotten-system/#respondFri, 19 Jan 2018 00:36:37 +0000http://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/?p=411Continue reading AT&T Long Lines – A Forgotten System]]>The era spawning from the 1950s throughout the 1980s can be considered the golden era of telecommunication. While computers were expanding from items consuming entire rooms to something that could fit on a person’s desk, so was the way we communicate. Televisions went from being a luxury item to being in every home. Telephone systems were not only used for voice, but to transfer data from one location to another almost instantaneously. The inventions and innovations from this period have led to technologies we rely on every day: the internet, satellite television, fiber-optics, cell phones, and et cetera. But it’s often forgotten how we’ve arrived where we are.

The AT&T Long Lines system is one of the systems that transformed communication systems but is nearly forgotten about. Without relying on vulnerable, expensive, and high-maintenance wired systems in a time where satellite communications and fiber optics did not exist, the Long Lines system allowed people to connect from all over the country.

An Intro to My Connection

I grew up in rural Missouri between two small towns named Arrow Rock and Slater. For many, many miles all you would see on both sides of the road were fields of corn or soybeans.

One thing that struck my eyes was a huge tower on one of the roads we frequented to travel to Slater – a small town of less than a thousand people. In the middle of a field, although located just off the road, was this giant tower. Painted red and white, at the top of this tower were four huge horn antennas – piercing like eyes watching you drive down the road. Being a kid who was interested in electronics and how they worked – including RF systems, I was mesmerized by the size of the tower and the horn antennas. At the base of the tower was a small white concrete building with a small gravel driveway leading to it.

A Long Lines site in Hermann, MO that resembles the Slater station. This particular tower has had its horn antennas removed, as well. (Photo source: Kenneth Bowles for Long-Lines.net)

One thing that still interests me is how this tower had no light. Almost every tower I’ve seen to that point – and since – has had a light on the top of warn airplanes of its existence. This tower was tall enough (at least to my knowledge) to require some type of light, and especially since it was located in a field with no tall buildings or objects surrounding (or anywhere near) the tower.

This tower was abandoned, and its purpose was unknown to me then and for many years after that. Over the years I’ve located at least three other towers of nearly identical design. One was much, much bigger and actually had a light. I noticed that all of these towers appeared to be abandoned. The towers had a very different design from any cell tower I’ve seen before, and didn’t appear to be used for radio or TV transmissions, either. Since horn antennas are highly directional, I knew that it had to have a more specific purpose.

But yet I didn’t find out about their purpose until earlier this week. These towers were all parts of the AT&T Long Lines system.

The History of the Long Lines System

Throughout the hey-days of telephone and telegraph systems, wired systems were the only option. Long lines of cable connected cities together, although this system presented major issues. The first was vulnerability. Much like power lines and present above-ground cable systems, a tree limb or storm could easily knock down the cables. This isn’t a major problem when ten or twenty people are affected, but when hundreds of thousands of people are affected – including vital operations, it grows into a catastrophe.

The second issue is the wired systems were expensive to setup and required lots of maintenance. Miles and miles of thick cable isn’t cheap, and isn’t cheap or easy to install or repair when it was damaged. (We’re talking about an era predating “self-diagnostic” systems that would automatically alert the telephone company where a break had happened.)

This Long Lines tower, located in a desert, rises many feet into the air. Peering across the rocky landscape, it awaits for a signal to pass along to its brethren. (Photo: Spencer Harding)

AT&T – a part of the Bell System – got a smart idea to replace these lines with something more reliable: a network of relay towers that worked on microwave frequency.

The first coast-to-coast telephone call was made on August 17, 1951 using the Long Lines – sometimes known as the “Skyway” or “Telephone Skyway” – network.

The system grew from it’s initial opening in 1951. Not only in the size of the network but the way it was used. The Long Lines network was used to carry television signals, such as network television shows and news, as well as important military data. Computers would later utilize the network to transmit data from coast-to-coast with the advance of teleprocessing systems and modems.

A 1960 map of the broadcast lines connecting the stations. (Source: Long-Lines.net)

The stations were connected via line-of-sight horn antennas which transmitted (or received) microwave signals. A call placed in one part of the country would be passed on to the next relay station, then passed on to the next, and so on until it reached the station nearest its destination. Then it would be sent through cables to the telephone company then to your house. Each horn antenna was positioned so it made a direct path (line-of-sight path, or “as the eagle flies” path) to the next station.

A call placed in St. Louis, Missouri but meant to be received in Kansas City, Missouri would have passed through the Slater station that I recall seeing as a child.

Remember that I mentioned television? The towers were not only used to relay the transmission of telephone data, but also television shows. NBC, CBS, and other networks used this to air their shows and news networks all around the country. Some of the shows transmitted through the Long Lines system included American Bandstand and Monday Night Football, although the earliest example was used in 1951 to show Edward Murrow’s See It Now.

Designed to Last

During the height of the Cold War, the importance of the Long Line towers grew. Military phone calls and data were transmitted through the towers. Many towers had their base stations installed underground in shielded rooms that were tested to withstand the EMP produced by a nuclear blast. These underground stations also were equipped with the same toiletries and survival kits and items that many Fallout Shelters had.

Photo: Spencer Harding

The towers themselves, with the horn antennas, were also designed to withstand a nuclear detonation. Some above-ground stations also were designed with sophisticated systems to keep the network online in the event of an attack.

IBM had even used the system for confidential purposes in Kingston, New York.

New Discoveries and post-Monopoly Decline

During the 1970s, technological breakthroughs eventually would spell the end for the Long Lines system.

One of the new innovations was the use of fiber optics. Fiber optic lines are typically located underground, eliminating the vulnerabilities of earlier coaxial-based cable systems. Fiber optics also were much faster than coaxial-cable as fiber optic systems utilize light to transmit data through strands of transparent material that conduct the light, acting as a waveguide.

The second innovation was the use of satellites themselves. Television programs could be relayed using satellites which orbited in our upper atmosphere, which allowed for widespread and nearly-instantaneous relays that required minimal equipment. And since the relaying equipment wasn’t on the ground in the middle of a corn field in Missouri, it was less prone to damaging storms and vandalism.

But these innovations came at a time where AT&T – or the Bell system – was feeling the effects of poor business practices. The Department of Justice was hot on their case and eager to enforce antitrust suits against the company. The Bell system had developed a huge monopoly which allowed them to charge whatever they wanted for telephone lines.

The Bell System, also known as “Ma Bell”, operated a giant monopoly in the American telephone market. This allowed the company to charge extremely high prices for telephone service. (Photo: Spencer Harding)

In 1982, the Department of Justice broke up AT&T – one of the largest monopolies ever created – to many, smaller telephone companies nicknamed “Baby Bells.” These “Baby Bells”, like Southwestern Bell and Bell Atlantic, would eventually evolve into many well known telecommunications company of today, like Verizon, CenturyLink, and (the modern) AT&T.

Following the decision and shrinking of AT&T came competitors (mainly Baby Bells) who instituted the new innovations. Fiber optics and satellite systems quickly became the norm, placing the Long Lines system by the wayside.

By the early 1990s, AT&T – now faced with competitors – decided the Long Lines system had served a long, faithful life and it was time to stick a nail in the coffin. And just like that, the Long Lines system faded from being state-of-the art technology to just abandoned towers and buildings. Thus, ending the often forgotten chapter in telecommunications history about the Long Lines system.

The Impact of the Long Lines System

Post-break up AT&T was not a small company for long. They eventually regained power by becoming one of the “big three” wireless (cell phone) carriers. Once again, towers (although this time connecting cell phones) have been constructed around the nation, sometimes even in rural areas.

This Long Lines center, located on the roof of a present-day AT&T office, reminds how the towers still remain standing despite being out of use for decades. (Photo: Spencer Harding)

Many of the Long Line towers remain as a reminder of how far we’ve come in the world of telecommunications. We have went from party lines and operators (“Betty, can you connect me to Mr. Smith’s office?”) to holding a telephone and computer – combined – in our own hand. We don’t need to stand by the phone to make a call or wait for one – we can do it all from hour hands, from virtually anywhere.

The towers can also be used to remind you of the Cold War. Just like old airplanes, nuclear missile silos, or SAGE, the Long Lines system was one of the first lines of defense during a time where we were constantly under threat.

As for the towers themselves – some have been reduced to scrap, some lay abandoned, others have been re-purposed. All of the Long Line towers I’ve seen in person (like the Slater station) have sat abandoned since the early 1990s. The base stations are surrounded by weeds and trash, while the horns have been weathered and damaged. Some of the stations have had their horn antennas entirely removed. One near where I currently live has been stripped of all its horn antennas, leaving just a flat platform with four holes where the horn antennas and their waveguides would have once went. According to Google Maps the Slater station has seen a familiar fate – having its horns removed since I last drove by that station nearly ten years ago.

Many towers, such as this one, have been re-purposed into cell phone towers and ham radio antennas. (Photo: Spencer Harding)

Other stations have seen a new lease on life. After AT&T sold many of the antennas to companies in the late 1990s, many have been re-purposed for other purposes. Many have been turned into ham radio stations, with the tower serving as a giant ham radio antenna. Others, mostly owned by one company (American Tower), have been leased to cell carriers (like AT&T and Sprint) to be fitted with cell phone relay equipment.

Special thanks goes out to Spencer Harding for allowing me the use of his photos. If you found this entry interesting, check out his book: The Long Lines.

]]>http://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/2018/01/19/att-long-lines-a-forgotten-system/feed/0Why keep the Pinnacle?http://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/2018/01/15/why-keep-the-pinnacle/
http://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/2018/01/15/why-keep-the-pinnacle/#respondMon, 15 Jan 2018 20:42:56 +0000http://personal.garrettfuller.org/blog/?p=423Continue reading Why keep the Pinnacle?]]>One of the most frequent questions I get regarding the 1981 Free Spirit Pinnacle is: “why not just buy a new bike?” Some have asked and criticized why keep such an old, “low-end” bike.

I thought I’d tackle that question here and let people refer to it.

The 1981 Free Spirit Pinnacle currently needs some work before it can be restored to road-worthy use. The main issue is the brakes. I tackled (or tried to) this problem in my last update on the Pinnacle project, but I purchased the wrong brakes. Turns out that the brake assemblies are both out of adjustment, so I am going to need to take the bike to a local bike shop to get it re-adjusted.

The second problem is tires. This bike uses the dreaded “steel rims” that lack the hook bead that is common on modern rims. Modern tires almost always take advantage of the hook bead by securing itself into the hook when the tire is inflated. This allows the tire to be inflated to higher pressures. The sad thing is that without the hook, the tire will eventually break loose from the rim, causing a blowout. I ruined many tubes before I discovered this fact, and it is still a problem today. The tires I bought in the last update stated specifically that they were not for use with rims lacking the hook – although I’m not sure if running at lower pressures will harm it or not. The new tire produced a strange and ominous gap between the tire bead and rim – even when inflated to 20 PSI – that persuaded me to stop.

With the problem with brakes and a rim that is no longer supported by modern tires, why even bother? There are many bikes out there for fairly cheap – some as low as $70 – and they don’t have the problems.

1. Build Quality

The Free Spirit Pinnacle was originally sold in Sears-Roebuck stores back in the 1970s and 1980s. According to my research, Huffy made the bike for Sears.

While this bike was originally sold by a department store, compared to many bikes sold today at Wal-Mart and other department stores this thing is built like a tank. Unlike modern bikes, it has a steel frame – no aluminum frames. Most parts on this bike were built to last.

You’d be hard pressed to find a modern bike at a department store (or even a sub-$500 bike at a bike shop or online) that will last 40 years with regular use.

2. Repair or Replace? Cost…

Whenever something has issues, you ask yourself “is it cheaper to repair or replace the item?” You take many things into consideration, from the age to the overall condition to how much a replacement would cost.

In the case of the Pinnacle, most of the mechanical parts are in excellent shape. The frame is, too. In the grand scheme of things, the things that have been replaced on this bike are minor things (tires, inner tubes, brakes, etc.)

A new decent bike will set you back at least $500, but you can spend well over $1000. It’s just cheaper to replace the $25 or $50 parts on the Pinnacle. When taking this into consideration, many newer bikes are made using cheaper components that are prone to failure, as well as made overall cheaper.

3. The Personal “Attachment”

While just a bike, any object can develop a personal “attachment” to its owner. For many this can be their first car, our first computer, and so on.

The Pinnacle was my first bike after moving into town. It was how I got from place to place. I rode the Pinnacle to friends houses, around town, and even (although on rare circumstances) to and from school.

The bike was decommissioned in 2012 after I had near-continuous problems with the tires (due to the lack of a hook bead on the rims.) At that time I had a modern Huffy mountain bike that got me from point A to point B, but the Huffy mountain bike didn’t last long. It, too, suffered from issue after issue. The pedals starting to go, then slowly the gear shifter, and so on. In 2015 the Huffy was recycled – leaving the Pinnacle as my sole bike again.

4. The “Cool Factor”

While not a major deal breaker/maker either, I thought I’d mention the “coolness” of owning an older road bike.

Much like owning an older car or computer, there is sort of a mystique of owning an older item that has survived all of these years through widespread use.

While most are riding new bikes with nice, sleek paint – it would be cool and different to ride around on a road bike painted a beautiful electric blue paint with chrome accents (something a lot of modern bikes lack) and gum-wall tires.

I’ve returned to my room in the University. The T42 and T420 are happily co-existing there, with the T42 not fussing too much about the WiFi. (I’m actually using the T42 to write this post.)

Cell Phone Update

I was going to make a separate post regarding the cell phone saga, but I decided against it as there isn’t much to talk about currently. I’m reserving a part 2 for when I get the phone, and possibly a part 3 for a review of the phone after a month or so of use.

Cricket was a bust. In essence, there was an issue between me and how their system, and technical support was not helpful. My last resort was trying to buy the phone at my local Walmart (while we have a Cricket Store in our town, I was told they would charge an activation fee if I went there) and quickly learned they did not carry Cricket.

After exploring my options, I’m going with the AT&T Prepaid service – formerly “GoPhone.” Since AT&T owns Cricket, the same basic service will be provided. Although AT&T’s prepaid is somewhat more expensive, they offer the same phone and can actually be bought at our local Walmart.

Upcoming Posts

Speaking of AT&T, I discovered something interesting that I may write a post regarding in the future. Without going into much detail – when I was a kid, we had a couple of these gigantic towers around us with huge horn antennas on them. We drove by one frequently, but it looked abandoned and had no light (which I thought was strange.) I was always fascinated by the size of the horn antennas, as I was interested in RF systems at that age and thought they were cool. I always wondered what the antenna did, as there were no radio stations or TV stations, and it looked very different from any cell phone tower I’ve seen.

Years later, I found another (nearly identical) antenna in a nearby town. This antenna was much bigger and had more horn antennas. The red/white colors, horns, and the base station buildings looked identical.

Now the purpose and history behind those towers have come to light: they were part of the AT&T Long Lines system of the 1950s through the early 1990s. I will write more about those specific towers and the history/purpose of the Long Lines system in a upcoming post.

TBT

I also recently did another Throwback Thursday (TBT) post regarding my usage of dial-up internet as a child. I may write another TBT post – though if I do the Long Lines post I may write a much shorter TBT entry because the Long Lines may take a while to compile and write.